Shampoo?

[PrettyCandles]

Is there any reason why I have to use shampoo to wash my hair? Could I not use shower gel or handwash instead? Followed by conditioner, too.

?

I've occasionally used shower gel if I've run out of shampoo. Didn't notice the difference but may do if used regularly.

Why not use shampoo though?

There's a PH thing. Something about closing the cuticle, which stops frizz. Or minimises it. Other ingredients like lipids (fats/oils), silicones (depending what brand, but Pantone has loads apparently), sodium chloride for a bit of root lift, etc etc. Shower gel might just have lots of stuff designed to give a nice creamy moisturising feel which will dull your hair or weigh it down, etc.

More to consider if you have colour treated hair - i.e why strip it unnecessarily (and shower gels might do this more than a colour formulation shampoo)

So yeah, give it a try. If you don't notice a difference, then I guess it doesn't matter.

That said, per 100ml a cheap and cheerful but competent shampoo is probably the same as a cheap and cheerful but competent shower gel?

Thanks. The reason I'm considering this is that I'm allergic to fragrances and the only shampoo I have found, so far, that I can use is Simple. But it's expensive - especially when used by a family of five - and the one I like for my hair is the red-capped one, but I can only ever find it in Boots, the supermarkets carry the white-capped one. Which means an extra shopping trip. I just want to simplify things a bit.

I've been using Ecover washing up liquid on mine for about the last 10 years. My hair is naturally a bit oily and the ecover seems to suit it very well. Not sure it would be a good idea for dry hair though.

another vote for ecover washing up liquid.
I'm not using it as shampoo, though, just to refill the hand soap dispensers as other stuff makes my eczema flare up.

Everyone recommends Ecover products! But they are fragranced.